TCC Press Review 4 Sept 2021

Front Page Headlines

Yenidüzen

Nightmare at care home

Eight cases at the Altınkalpler care home for the elderly, five deaths. Eight of the 13 seniors residing at the facility contracted Covid-19. Entry and exit to the facility have been banned by the health ministry. The home will be disinfected a second time this week and staff will be tested before family members and visitors are allowed once again.

  • “The biggest problem is language and racism” International students staged a protest in front of parliament demanding authorities to address their problems. They complained about the difficulties they faced but were prevented from reading out their statement.

Kıbrıs

Never-ending ordeal!

Doing a PCR or an antigen test has turned into a big ordeal in the past week in our country. The number of testing centres decreased significantly when the private labs decided not to carry out tests anymore. As a result, dozens of people had to wait for hours in long queues to get tested. Such photographs (Supported by a photograph showing a long line of people waiting outside a testing centre) reminded us of the very first days of the pandemic.

  • “We will also start drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean if the Greek Cypriot side goes ahead”President Ersin Tatar met with Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay. Both gave important messages at the joint press conference they held.

Diyalog

Those demanding fees are committing a crime

Health Minister Ünal Üstel said that only vaccinated persons will be eligible for free rapid tests. He said that municipalities and pharmacies will be carrying out these tests as of Monday.

  • The bishop has gone mad –The Metropolitan of Morphou Neofitus said he asked the Virgin Mary to send him the coronavirus. His remarks made headlines.
  • $35m goes up in thin air – Manager of a Belgian company who lives in South Cyprus says he was swindled.

Avrupa

Nurses work 14-hour shifts

The working conditions for nurses at the pandemic hospital has become unbearable. The nurses and caregivers on duty at the hospital do not even find time to rest or sleep…They start work at 7 am and end the day at 9 pm…They are given an hours break for lunch.

Main News

Oktay: “If the GC side starts drilling, so will we

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process, Energy, Property, Territory

OVERVIEW

If Greek Cypriots start drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean Turkey will too, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay announced.

Oktay’s remarks came after a meeting on Friday in Ankara with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar who was in Turkey for contacts.

The Turkish vice president commenting on the announcement earlier in the week that the Exxon Mobil/Qatar Petroleum consortium is set to begin work in late November to early December in Cyprus’ offshore block 10, said Turkey would not hesitate to reciprocate.

“We understand that they are trying to raise tensions,” Oktay said. He added that it would be unthinkable for both the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey to remain idle. “We have already stated this very clearly. This means that we will start drilling works. This would be the answer. We cannot think of any other answer,” Oktay said.

Oktay also sent out the message to the Greek Cypriot side that they plan on seeing through the announcement by the north of the opening of the fenced area of Varosha in Famagusta. “We are opening Maras (Varosha) in the service of humanity,” he said. Oktay said this was the decision by the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey supported this and will continue to do so.

He also told Tatar Turkey supports his proposal on a two-state solution to the Cyprus problem arguing there was no point in wasting time again with studies and solutions that lead nowhere. “The Turkish Cypriot side presented its proposal to the UN Secretary-General (UNSG) and expressed it openly to the whole world. I would like to express once again that we fully support this position,” Oktay said.

Also speaking during the press conference, Turkish Cypriot leader Tatar said he would be travelling to New York on September 18 for meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) including one with the UNSG

He said the Turkish Cypriot side continued to work hard to persuade the international community and the Greek Cypriot side to adopt the concept of a two-state solution based on sovereign equality.

Also touching on the Maraş (Varosha) Initiative, Tatar repeated his view that the Turkish Cypriot side aimed to end past grievances and human rights violations in the fenced-off town.

“As a result of this initiative, the former residents of the town will be able to return to their properties,” Tatar said, adding that the reopening process will be in line with UN resolutions and international law, respecting human rights.

Tatar also accused the Greek Cypriot leadership of using the issue of passports to reciprocate against the Turkish Cypriot side’s moves on Maraş (Varosha).

“Their decision to revoke the passports, which some Turkish Cypriots are entitled to obtain as a result of founding agreements of the Republic of Cyprus, as a threat against the Turkish Cypriots, is wrong and has generated harsh reactions,” Tatar said, adding that there as a general perception that Anastasiades’ policies have collapsed.”

KEY ACTORS
Oktay (Turkey)
>> Turkey will also drill in East Med if GCs begin drilling.
>> Ankara supports a two-state solution in Cyprus.
>> Decision to open Maraş (Varosha) adopted by TC side & Turkey fully supports this move.

Tatar
>> TC side is working hard to persuade the international community & GC side to accept the concept of a two-state solution.
>> Maraş (Varosha) move aimed at ending past grievances & human rights violations.
>> Decision to revoke the passports of some TCs in response to Maraş (Varosha) moves is wrong.
>> General perception is that Anastasiades’ policies have collapsed.


AKP Spokesman Ömer Çelik slams Menendez

Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will continue to be the guardians and assurance of peace in Cyprus, Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokesman Ömer Çelik said.

Responding to reporters’ questions at the party headquarters in Ankara on Thursday as the party’s central executive board meeting headed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was continuing, Çelik slammed the US Senator Bob Menendez for his latest remarks on the presence of Turkish troops on the island.

“Menendez will not see the Turkish troops leaving Cyprus because Turkish troops went to the island to carry out a peace operation as a guarantor nation to protect Turkish Cypriots,” Çelik said, adding that demanding the withdrawal of the troops with no basis would only mean transforming to a Greek island.

“It would mean that organisations such as EOKA, which carried out atrocities, would emerge again,” Çelik said.

KEY ACTORS
Çelik (Turkey)
>> TSK will continue to be the guardians of peace in Cyprus.
>> Menendez will not see Turkish troops leave Cyprus because TSK carried out a military operation to protect TCs.
>> Departure of TSK with no basis would mean transforming Cyprus into a Greek island.


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